That rock that we
have been pushing up
the hill—that one
that keeps rolling back down
and we keep pushing
back up—what if
we stopped? We are not
Sisyphus. This rock
is not a punishment.
It’s something we’ve chosen
to push. Who knows why.
I look at all the names
we once carved into
its sedimentary sides.
How important
I thought they were,
those names. How
I’ve clung to labels,
who’s right, who’s wrong,
how I’ve cared about
who’s pushed harder
and who’s been slack.
Now all I want
is to let the rock
roll back to where it belongs,
which is wherever it lands,
and you and I could,
imagine!, walk unencumbered,
all the way to the top and
walk and walk and never stop
except to discover what
our hands might do
if for once they were
receiving.
Surely the right word to end on, the “pushing” attached to the hands at the end and not the rock. I like where the Imagine! interrupts all that pushing too. It seems odd to me about the names, the labels “carved into” the rock except to make the point of our allegiances, right or wrong. It feels a bit contrived to make that point. I don’t know. All that pushing seems to leave so little time for carving.
so right! How could you carve if you were pushing! I changed it to read “we once carved,” in a time perhaps before the big push …
astute catch, amigo, thanks for the assist!
amen,sister.
just what I needed..I am so good at pushing really old stones that are better left at the bottom of the hill
well said…I am so good at pushing up old stones that are better left behind…
…to discover what
our hands might do
if for once they were
receiving.
Too, life’s hills are tall enough without us making them taller with our boulders.
super rephrasing in the positive. nice re-rendering.
Oh, so beautiful. Thanks for the reminder to let go, and to walk unencumbered!
thanks dear Claudia … reminding myself!
wondering what it would really be like …
Was on a conference call last night with a dozen or so other seekers/healers/artists/musicians. This poem was the centerpiece of our conversation and worked beautifully. Thank you for this gift! My song for today is “all I want is to let.” 🙂
Thank you so much for the feedback … and for letting the poem join your conversation. I am honored … tickled, too, to see that you are wordgirl. My website/business name is wordwoman. Wonderful to be in this swirl of words together.
Definitely kindred spirits. With a shared love of words and hearts. So grateful for this new connection. Your daily practice is an inspiration!